The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1887-03-31

body there. The project, however,
had been given up, as the murderer
had thought of better plan for dis
posing OF the body. But where? In
the river, of course! Sure enough, in
the river bank the footprints were
again found The river had been
dragged up and down and sideways
and across, and at every conceivable
angle, but no body had been found.
The inspector was getting impatient
when a road wagon drove up and a
dapper little man, with swarthy COM
plexion and a heavy black mustache
Jumped out. The stranger was none
other than Capt Salegria, the famous
detective In few minutes the de-
tectiye had heard all that the Inspector
had to tell.
Let me see, said the detective.
.'AlI the village, you say, knew the
captain would have money to pay his
debt5?"
The inspector nodded.
(Which amounted in all to about
$500, more or iess?"
The Inspector nodded again.
..And he drew out of the bank 49,
750. Was that the whole legacy?"
cit was"
.Ho didn't want $3.50 to pay $500,
did he?n
This was new light to the inspect
OF, who shook his head cautiously.
From whom did the order to pay
the money Gomez"
.'Colez, Garcia & CO..
'sColez, Garcia & Co., ;" repeated Sc
legria, referring to his note book; the
great American traders"
and you suspect no one?"
''Eo one except the man who passed
the note
The detective and the inspector en-
tered the house. After looking oyer
the kitchen and buxom widows bed
room without making any discovery,
the two went to the captains bedroom.
Everything of moment was carefully
examined.
A pair of boots lying in the corner
Of the room finally attracted the de-
tectiyes attention. Something in the
AiAtiiiS- VI Cl4t VI tlEfAii StCIItt W III
terest him, for he again referred to his
Pocket-book. Having finished his ex-
animation of the bedroom the detect
i've went downstairs, taking one of the
boots with him and inspecting each
stain as he descended. These were APP
parently more satisfactory, for his
smile frightened considerably, and af-
ter he had been shown the traces of
blood along the floor of the sitting
room il had expanded into a broad
grin.
lie walked to the table, and turned
over the books and papers till he found
some sheets of blotting-paper. These
he examined attentively, holding them
up to the light and turning them in
every possible direction. The result
seemed satisfactory, for he pocketed
them.
And now about the captain sad
the detective, choosing the clearest
footprint he could find in the soft mud,
and pulling the boot out of his pocket
Ills name is Rodriguez, you say.
What is he captain OFF,
Nothing that | know of, but they
do say that he has been a captain in
the China trade"
"What sort of man is he?"
Tall, spare-buiit, about 40, gray
hair, and no whiskers.'
Deep cut over the right eyebrow, =
added the detective quietly, as he
stopped and fitted the boot which he
had taken from the captains room
into the impression in the mud.
Yes, " said the inspector, puzzled at
the detectives knowledge.
..He never went by that name here,
did hep asked the detective, handing
the boot to the inspector, on the lining
of which was written "A. Perez
Never"
He was getting more and more puz.
zled
Perez, alias Cova, alias Delgardo.
and now alias Rodriguez: I've wanted
him these three years, said the de-
tective, cheerfully. I've got him
now"
Yes" said the inspector, grimly,
''he's safe enough over there"
And he jerked his thumb toward the
river.
Bless you" said the detective, s.he's
nearer America by this time He'll
die Ill his boots or with the rope around
his neck yet. Don't you see the fell
low has murdered himself and bolted
with the swag? When | found that
boot | thought how it was, and this set
tied it, said the detective. pulling the
sheets Of blotting paper out of his
pocket and holding them to the inspect
or. There, all over them, were the
words Colez, Garcia & Co., In a neat,
cierk-llhe hand, with that peculiar
flourish at the end which those who
had dealings with that eminent house
knew 50 well. That letter to the VII
lage bank IS forgery; lis not the
first time he has served Colez, Garcia
& Co. this trick He was in their
American house five years. came to
them with a forged character, robbed
them to the tune of So, 600 and bolted.
He's been smuggling ana thieving all
over the world since then But |
| must be off. | wouldn't miss him for
anything
1he detective was right. The vii
lage bank found, to its astonishment.
that Colez, Garcia 4 Co repudiated
the letter which purported to bear their
signature 1t was a forgery. Some
days later the captain was arrested
just as he was in the act of booking
his passage for New York Subsequent
ly he was tried in the village court in
Oposura, and, under the name of Rod
riquez, was sentenced to penal servi-
tude for the term of his natural life
"See here" remarked the boss TO
the new man who wanted work,
.'aren't you one of the fellows who
went out on strike three weeks agoP''
is it mep" demanded the new man.
s'Was it a strike? Tree weeks agoP
All, thin, be me sowl, | haven't be- n
tin days in America It's only last
week | landed, late in the avenin'-